The future of steel on Teesside could be secured for up to 15 years - with no job losses planned.

This is the powerful message from the new local boss of Corus today.

In his first crucial public meeting with union leaders, stakeholders and the media, Colin Muncie - the man charged with leading the Redcar and Lackenby works to the world markets - said: "There is a future here - we are not planning for failure."

And not only were no job cuts planned, many who have applied for redundancy will be disappointed.

Spelling out the way ahead for the new company, and the thousands on Teesside who rely on it, Mr Muncie added there is a potentially profitable world market for slab for the next 10-15 years.

And the business intends to grab its share.

Teesside Cast Products, of which Mr Muncie is the new managing director, this week became a separate business unit within the Corus Long Products Division and employs 1,728 of the 2,893 on site.

By 2006 TCP will be a stand-alone business trading on the world market once refurbishment works at Scunthorpe and Port Talbot are complete.

Then Teesside slab - a semi-finished product - will not play a major part of Corus's internal plans. But between now and 2006 TCP will be building up a client base.

Since 2000 more than 600,000 tonnes of slab have been exported - nearly half of that since last year. Mr Muncie said the world market was predicted to grow over the coming years as demand outstrips supply.

"Some US companies are closing their steel-making operations and concentrating on their rolling mills, which means they will have to buy in steel," he told an audience of more than 30.

"There is also growth in Asia, all of which provides significant opportunities."

He did warn that costs would have to come down and areas where up to #6m could be saved had been identified - by using good practice, health and safety and simplifying operations.

Paul Lorimer, executive director of Corus Long Products -which takes in TCP - added that the company had received more requests for voluntary redundancy in the last year than it could allow.

When Corus originally announced its restructuring plans last year it said 220 jobs would go from its Construction and Industrial division - including 160 on Teesside. But union leaders stressed there would be no compulsory redundancies.

Mr Muncie said the business plan also allowed for a joint venture equity partner, adding: "There has been a great deal of interest from steel makers, steel traders, steel rollers and ore producers.

"But the main criteria is that any partner must have the interests of TCP at heart."

A local deep water port and infrastructure that can handle 3.5m tonnes of export slab would also be a key factor. Currently facilities provide only for 1.1m tonnes.